Centrifugal extractor



W. J. ASHER CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed Feb. 17, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Jul/00111366 61 New any W. J. ASHER Oct. 1, 1929.

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed Feb. 17, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Get. 1, 1929. w. .J. ASHER CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR Filed Feb. 17, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet WILLIAM J. ASHER, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO cmrrnrruen. EXTRACTOR Application filed February 17, 1926. Serial No. 88,957.

This invention relates generally to a cen- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine;

trifugal machine and more particularly to Fig. 4 is a plan of the drum or basket and a motor driven extractor so constructed that its detachable cover, showing the arrangeit will be fool proof and that at the same time ment whereby circulation of air through the 5 will present a neat and compact appearance device is increased; 55

and be economical of space. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the parts To this end, an object of this invention is shown in Fig.4;

to provide an extractor in which the rapidly Fig. 6 is a horizontal section showing the rotating drum is inaccessible to careless operlaterally yieldable bearing on an enlarged atives while said drum is in motion. scale; 60

Another object is to provide a table over Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the the extractor and its moving parts, which brake and the parts immediately associated table will serve the function of protecting the therewith; operative from said parts as well as provide Fig. 8 is a cross section through the ima suitable working space. proved pulley; 65

Another object is to provide an extractor Fig. 9 is a section onthe line wa:on Fig.

- so designed that no moving or movable parts 2; and

project beyond the peripheral edges of the Fig. 10 is a partial horizontal section on table-like cover that houses such parts. line 1010 of Fig. 1.

Another object is to provide an extractor Similar reference characters are used to 70 having an improved manner of causing a designate similar parts in the several figures positive circulation of air through the rapidof the drawings. ly rotating drum or basket, whereby the In the drawings 1 indicates a base prodrying of the article within said drum will vided with a lateral extension 1. Projectbe facilitated. ing upwardly from said base is a web 2 sup- Another object of this invention is to proporting an annular trough shaped shelf 3 vide an improved yieldable bearing for the provided with drain openings 3*. Telescoped drum by which effective results may be obwithin the outer upwardly projecting flange tained from a bearing that is simple in conof said shelf 3 is a cylindrical casing 4. On

struction and capable of being readily disthe cylindrical casing an annular ring 5, pro- 80 assembled. vided with a depending flange 5 surround- Another object is to provide an improved ing the casing. is arranged. The casing 4 is self-oiling pulley that is especially effective clamped fixedly in position by rods 6 in the relation in which it has been applied. threaded in the ring 5 at one end. Said rods A further object of the invention is to compass through openings in the shelf 3 and are 35 bine the fly wheel and the pulley for rotating provided with nut-s engaging the under surthe drum or basket with the casting constiface of said shelf and serving to hold the tuting the base of the drum or base whereby shelf casing and ring in assembled relation. greater simplicity and compactness is ob- Rotatably mounted within the cylindrical tained. casing 6 is a perforated or foraminous basket Still further objects of the invention will or drum 7. Secured to the base 8 of said hasappear as the description proceeds with ket by a tapered fit is a shaft 9. Said shaft is reference to the accompanying drawings, in journaled in a cup shaped bearing member 10, which: provided with a ball bearing 11 in its bottom 4 Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the mato reduce friction between the end of the shaft chine, taken on the planes indicated by the and the bearing, to aminimum. The bearing line 0-1; in Fig. 2; member 10 is provided externally with fiat Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken abutment faces 10 and a rounded bottom 10, on a plane just below the bottom edge of the permitting slight canting of the bearing. 10

extractor casing; The flat faces just referred to provide firm O seats for coil springs 12, that will presently be described.

The bearin member 10 is arranged within but spaced rom a cup shaped supporting member 13, preferably formed integral with the base 1 as clearly indicated on Fig. 1. In the space between said bearing and supporting members, are a plurality of flat plates 14. each plate Carrying a plurality of studs 15 threaded in said plates. The springs 12, before referred to, are mounted upon said studs. The arrangement and character of the springs around the bearing member is such as to lightly hold said member in a central position but movable readily under ordinary stresses of operation tending to move the shaft laterally, such as unbalance of the basket and contents. The pressure of the springs 12 holding the bearing member in position may be varied by adjustment of the studs 15. The springs permit slight lateral bodily movement of the basket when ordinary strains such as above described tending to move the basket laterally, are set up. Such strains may be, and not unusually are, caused by an unsymmetrical arrangement of the articles within the basket after it is set in rapid motion.

The laterally yieldable bearing just described is simple and may be readily disassembled, since the springs and their adjusting means, the studs 15, are unattached to either ,the supporting or the bearing member. It

should be noted that the engagement of the ,heads of the adjusting studs with the inner .member 13 to thus change the angles of the plates 14 as desired.

Lubricant is supplied to the cup shaped supporting member through a pipe 16 extending horizontally as shown at 17, which extension is threaded in the supporting member (see Fig. 2). The level of the lubricant in said member is kept above an opening 18 in the bearing member, which opening serves to 'conduct the lubricant to the rotating shaft of the basket.

In order to provide a compact structure, the pulley for imparting rotative motion to the basket and the fly wheel are made a part of the basket or drum. In the preferred form the fly wheel consists in a circumferential extension 19 of suitable mass projecting from the base 8 of said basket. The pulley is provided preferably by forming said basket with a cylindrical extension 20 that surroundsthe supporting member 13, but is spaced therefrom as indicated clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This pulley 20 also functions as a brake drum as will be apparent later.

Power is supplied to the extractor by means of an electric motor 21 secured to a supporting arm 22 ad'ustably mounted on the extension 1 of the ase by means of bolts 24 passing through a flange 25 of the arm and through slots 23 formed in said extension. Adjustment of the arm is facilitated by a bolt 26 passing through an upstanding lug 27 on said extension and threaded in the flange of the arm.

Secured in openings provided in the arm 22 are two pulley shafts 28. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, each pulley shaft is rigidly secured to the arm by a set screw 29. The ends of said shafts are bent at right angles in opposite directions, and upon said ends pulleys 30 are rotatively mounted. Inasmuch as the pulleys are carried by the arm 22 it will be observed that adjustment of said arm, as above described, will effect an adjustment of the pulleys, thereby tensioning the belt that passes thereover as will be hereinafter described.

Fixed to the motor shaft is a disk 31 provided with a cylindrical projection 32 surrounding said shaft and secured thereto. A pulley 33 is rotatively mounted on said projection and frictionally engages the disk 31. The arrangement is such that at substantially full speed and under ordinary operating conditions pulley 33 and disk 31 rotate as a unit. However, if the machine is called upon to carry a load beyond the capacity of the motor, slipping will result between the disk and the pulley. The main purpose of the friction drive clutch is, however, to allow the motor to start and attain speed while picking up the load slowly and gradually accelerating it. Thus, a smaller motor of ust sufficient power to operate the drum can be used. Excess consumption of current at starting is thus avoided and no rheostat is required.

Rotary motion is imparted to the basket by means of an endless belt 20' passing around the pulleys 20, 30 and 33. Said belt is tensioned asabove pointed out.

A cover 36 is hinged to integral extensions 37 on the annular ring 5 by means of depending arms 38. It will be noted that this cover is of sufiicient size to substantially completely cover all moving parts and that it presents a flat surface constituting a table providing an entirely suitable working space over the machine. The cover is provided with rubber buttons 38 engaging the ring 5 and serving to space the cover section from the ring for a purpose hereinafter described.

Inasmuch as the cover 36 is intended to protect the operatives of the machine from accident, it is essential that it be in its lowered position when the machine operates and that non-operation of the machine be assured when the cover is in raised position. These objects are obtained by preventing the starting of the motor when the cover 36 is raised, and preventing raising of the cover when the motor is running. To efi'ect these results a switch 39 is carried by the cover adjacent the ivoted axis thereof. Said switch is arranged in the electrical circuit controlling the motor 21, the flexible conductor wires 40 being secured to suitable binding terminals on said switch. The switch is normally open when the lid is lifted and so held by a spring (not shown), but is closed when a stud 41 secured to the ring 5 engages its button 42 as the lid is closed down. When the cover'is raised the button 42 urged outwardly by its spring will immediately open the motor circuit.

Normally the operation of the motor is concontrolled by a suitably located master switch the opening of which will stop the machine. The switch 39 is an auxiliary switch provided as a safety device not so much to insure the stopping of the motor if an operative should negligently raise the cover without opening the master switch, but to prevent its being started while the cover is raised.

In order to stop the rotation of the basket without delay after the master switch is opened, a brake shoe 44 provided with a brake facing 45 is arranged to engage the pulley or brake drum 20 of the basket upon operation of the brake applying mechanism about to be described. Such mechanism is operable by a treadle 46 and is intended to be used after the motor is stopped by the master switch.

The brake shoe 44 is fitted loosely in a brake carrying member 47 bifurcated at 48 to receive it. Member 47 is grooved as shown at 49, so that when the brake shoe is slid across and between the furcations of said member, the grooves accommodate the projecting ends of a vertically extending pin 50 secured in the shoe. Said pin holds the shoe loosely in position in the carrier.

The brake carrying member is pivoted to an arm 51 secured to and projecting through a protuberance on the trough shaped member 3 so that it may be adjusted endwise to accommodate for wear of the brake facing. Said adjustment is effected by manipulating the nuts 52, as will be obvious.

The treadle 46 is pivoted at 54 and is provided with a rearwardly extending counterweight 55 tending to hold the treadle in its uppermost position. The treadle is provided with a short arm 56 fitting in a recess in the member 47. It is apparent that by the arrangement just described, depression of the treadle will force the brake shoe into engagement with extension 20. To prevent the brake shoe moving with the drum and swinging the carrier with it, the carrier is interlocked with the projection 56 as shown in Fig. 10 where it will be seen that the arm 56 is provided with side flanges 56' adapted to prevent lateral movement of the carrier 47.

In order that the treadle may be adjusted, when the brake shoe is adjusted by manipulat on of the nuts 52 as above described, the pivot of said treadle is made adjustable by securing it to the base by cap screws 57 that pass through a pivot carrying bracket slotted at 58. Adjustment of the bracket is facilitated by a screw 59, threaded in a lug upstanding from the base, that engages the edge of said bracket to positively adjust it when the cap screws are released.

The brake shoe 44 is retained in the position shown in Fig. 7 with the ears 44 thereon drawn against the end of the hanger 47 by means of the spring 53 having a straight end secured to the upper end of the pin 64 and its other end to a portion of the frame of the machine as shown in Fig. 2. It is then out of engagement with the drum. Upon depression of the treadle the brake shoe is pressed into engagement with the brake drum by the engagement of the carrier therewith. One end of the shoe engages the carrier adj acent the ears 44' as clearly shown in Fig. 7 and the pin 50 receives the thrust of the carrier at the other end of the shoe so that it is pressed radially against the brake drum.

The movable cover is provided with an arm 60 rigidly secured thereto- A link 61 connects said arm with one arm of a bell crank lever 62 pivoted on the member 3 by means of the stud 62 threaded therein. The other arm of said lever is secured to one end of a link 63, the opposite end of which is secured by a lost motion connection 64 between the spaced ears 44' on the brake shoe. It will be obvious that, by the arrangement just described, upon the raising of the cover the brake shoe will be instantly moved toward the brake drum. ferred to permits application of the brake by the treadle without affecting the means connecting the brake and the cover.

The links 63 is so located that it is partially tangential to the pulley 20 so that upon lifting the cover the brake shoe is moved in a direction contrary to the direction of rotation of the brake drum. The shoe being held against the drum by the link 63 and the pin 50, grips the drum by virtue of the friction lining on the shoe. There is thus a tendency for the shoe to be carried along by the drum to thus prevent further movement of the link 63 and consequently the further lifting of the cover, which cannot be raised without the use of great force. It thus acts as a warning to operatives that the motor is still running. Until the basket has stopped rotating the cover cannot be lifted owing to the above described action of the brake shoe. However, when the basket is stationary any attempt to open the cover causes the link 63 to press the shoe tagentially to the drum The lost motion connection above reand slightly rotate the basket in a reverse direction thus freeing the cover for opening. With the cover thus open the basket can be rotated by hand for loading.

The bell crank 62 is bent as shown in Fig. 2 and must rotate slightly on its pivot 62 to allow for the action just described. This is taken care of by having this pivot loosely threaded into the part 3. To allow for the necessary twisting of the rod 61 it is formed in two parts connected together by a threaded connection 61 which also permits of adjusting the length of this rod.

Rigidly secured to the upper edge of basket 7 is a flanged ring 65, said ring projecting 1nwardly and partially closing the upper end of the basket. A closure 66 provided with an outwardly flaring shoulder forming portion 67 fits within the ring 65. Said closure is perforated to provide radiating members 68, that are formed to provide blades or vanes as indicated cross sectionally in Fig. 4. By this construction, it is obvious that a circulation of air through the perforations w1ll be set up when the basket and its fixedly secured cover are rotated. The circulation induced as just pointed out is augmented by centrifugal force. The cover is spaced from the top ring of the imperforate casing 6 so that air can pass freely outward from said casing under the action of the fan and centrifugal force, thus facilitating the. drying of the articles within the basket.

The closure 66 is attached to the basket by bolts 69, each provided with an upward extension 7 O that rides in an eccentric cam groove 71 in rotatable cam plate 7 2 fitting in a depression in the closure. The cam plate is provided with a handle 73 whereby it may be turned about a screw 74 that secures it in said depression. A coil spring 75 attached at one end to the closure and at'the other end to the cam plate normally causes the bolts to be extended. WVhen it is desired to apply or remove the closure, it is only necessary to grasp the handle 73, rotating it in a clockwise direction until the bolts are fully retracted. The closure may then be readily applied or re moved.

The belt pulleys 30 are so constructed as to be self oiling. The pulley 33 is provided with the same arrangement. As shown in Fig. 8 the pulley consists of a belt engaging portion 76, a hub portion 77 and a connecting web 78. The hub portion is triangular in half cross section. Circumferential oil grooves 79, 80 and 81 are cut in said portion providing two shaft engaging portions 82 and two portions 83 that are slightly spaced from the shaft. That is, the arrangement is such that the surfaces 82 are relied upon to constitute the bearing surfaces. Groove 80 is enlarged laterally as shown at 84c. Communicating apertures 85 are provided between the grooves 79, 80 and 81. A screw threaded plug 86 is provided fitting a threaded aperture in the hub portion, said aperture communicating with oil groove 81. When the pulley is rotatively mounted upon the shaft the plug 86 arrangement a pulley is provided that will automatically lubricate itself without further attention than is required to fill the oil grooves at long intervals of time.

The base 1 of the machine is bolted to the floor upon which it is placed by bolts 87. In order to minimize the transmission to the building of any vibration, resulting from the rapid rotation of the basket, that may be unsymn'ietrically loaded, thick rubber washers 88 are provided spacing the base 1 from the floor. Lateral stresses are cushioned by shouldered rubber washers 89 surrounding the bolt, the shoulders resting upon the upper surface of the base, while, preferably, the short sleeve like extensions of the washers fit the enlarged bolt receiving openings in said base, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Having thus described the-invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a centrifugal extractor, in combination, a shaft, a basket and a brake-drum se cured to said shaft, a support for said shaft, a brake shoe adjacent said drum, a treadle carried by said support, a movable cover for said basket, means connecting said treadle and said brake shoe, means connecting said cover and said brake shoe whereby movement of the cover from said basket moves the shoe into engagement with the drum to prevent further opening movement of the cover, and means to rotate the shaft and parts carried thereby.

2. In a centrifugal extractor, in combina tion, a rotatable basket, an electric motor for rotating said basket, a brake to stop the basket, a movable cover for said basket, means mechanically connecting said brake and cover so arranged that the brake will be applied when attempt is made to raise the cover and thus prevent such raising, and means controlled by said cover for automatically stopping the motor upon the opening movement of the cover.

8. In a centrifugal extractor, in combination, a rotatably mounted basket, means to rotate said basket, a brake drum on said basket, a brake shoe to cooperate with said drum, a cover for said basket pivoted so as to be adapted to be lifted to uncover said drum, means connecting said cover and brake shoe to apply said shoe and tend to move it against the direction of rotation of said drum upon moving said cover to prevent Opening said cover during rotation of said drum.

4:. In a centrifugal extractor, in combination, a rotatably mounted basket, means to rotate said basket, a brake drum on said basket, a brake shoe to cooperate with said drum, a lever to apply said brake shoe substantially radially to stop said basket when the power is off, a second lever to apply said brake shoe tangentially against the direction of rotation of said drum, a pivoted cover for said basket, said cover and second lever being associated to prevent lifting of said cover during rotation of said basket.

5. A brake mechanism for rotating machinery including in combination, a rotatably mounted brake drum, means to rotate said drum in one direction, a brake shoe adapted to cooperate with said drum, a brake shoe carrier adapted for substantially radial motion in respect to said drum, said brake shoe being adapted for circumferential movement from normal in respect to said carrier in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said drum, and means to move said carrier radially inwardly to apply said brake.

6. A brake mechanism for rotating machinery including in combination, a rotatably mounted brake drum, means to rotate said drum in one direction, a brake shoe adapted to cooperate with said drum, a brake shoe carrier adapted for substantially radial motion in respect to said drum to apply said shoe, said brake shoe being adapted for circum ferential movement from normal in respect to said carrier in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said drum, and means to move said brake shoe independent of said carrier.

7. A brake mechanism for rotating machinery including in combination, a rotatably mounted brake drum, means to rotate said drum in one direction, a brake shoe adapted to cooperate with said drum, a brake shoe carrier adapted for radial motion in respect to said drum to apply said shoe, said brake shoebeing adapted for circumferential movement from normal in respect to said carrier in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said drum, and means to move said brake shoe independent of said carrier in a direction substantially tangential to, and opposite to the direction of rotation of, said drum.

8. In a centrifugal extractor, in combination, a rotatable basket, a brake drum thereon, a'pivoted cover for said basket adapted to be lifted to gain access to said basket, means to rotate said basket in one direction, a brake shoe adapted to cooperate with said drum, a brake shoe carrier adapted for only radial movement in respect to said drum, said brake shoe being adapted for circumferential movement from normal in respect to said carrier 1n a direction opposite to the movement of said drum, means to manually move said carrier and shoe radially inwardly to apply said brake and means controlled by the lifting of said cover to move said brake shoe alone in a direction tangential to, and opposite to the direction of rotation of, said drum.

9. In a centrifugal extractor, in combination, a rotatably mounted basket, power means to drive said basket, a brake surface rotatable with said basket, a brake shoe adapted to cooperate with said surface, a leveradapted to apply said brake shoe in a direction substantially normal to said surface to stop the basket, a second lever adapted to move said shoe into engagement with said surface in such a direction that the rotation of said braking surface resists further movement of said shoe, a cover normally shielding said basket and movable to give access thereto, and means associating said cover and said second lever whereby said cover is held closed when said basket is rotating.

10. In an extractor, in combination, a rotatably mounted basket, means to rotate said basket, a brake drum on said basket, a brake shoe to cooperate with said drum, a brake shoe carrier loosely engaging said shoe, means to prevent movement of said shoe in the direction of rotation of said drum, means associated With said carrier to apply said brake shoe radially to said drum, and means con- 9 nected directly to said shoe to move it circumferentially against the direction of ro tation of said drum.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. ASHER. 

